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State of Conservation Antigua Guatemala 2003

Antigua Guatemala

Guatemala
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
  • Commercial development
  • Management activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Damages caused to the buildings by earthquakes (issue resolved)
  • Impact of the planned commercial centre
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Requests approved: 5 (from 1979-1999)
Total amount approved : 96,016 USD
1999 Clean-up and preventive measures in Antigua Guatemala (Approved)   20,216 USD
1994 Purchase of equipment for Antigua Guatemala (Approved)   20,000 USD
1991 Contribution to a monitoring exercise of the following ... (Approved)   3,300 USD
1981 Financial contribution to study tour for the ... (Approved)   2,500 USD
1979 Financial assistance for purchase of equipment for ... (Approved)   50,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2003**

early 2001: ICOMOS mission

1999 Report on the ICOMOS Expert Mission to Central America following the passage of Hurricane Mitch
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003

The State Party has not submitted the requested report. However, the Secretariat received several complaints concerning the reconstruction and transformation of two of the more outstanding buildings of the historical centre: the Cathedral and the Church of the Compañía de Jesus by the National Council for the Protection of La Antigua Guatemala. These interventions seem to contradict Article 14 of the Protection Law of the city. In addition, the Newsletter El Periódico, dated 13 February 2003, announced the approval by the Antigua Municipality of the construction of the commercial complex, which had been discarded in 2002. The State Party confirmed this information in March 2003 and requested assistance from the Centre in order to prevent additional damage to the Historical Centre. 

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.92
Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Expressing concern about the foreseen construction of a commercial complex as well as about the new interventions already carried out, which seem to be incompatible with the Antigua Guatemala's heritage protection law,;

2. Recommends that a reactive monitoring mission be carried out as soon as possible to assess the possible damages following the interventions on the Cathedral and on the Church of La Compañia de Jesús, as well as the impact of the proposed commercial complex;

3. Urges the State Party to finalize the reformulation of the La Antigua's heritage protection law;

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and the measures taken for its preservation in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.

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Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 92

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Expresses concern about the foreseen construction of a commercial complex as well as about the new interventions already carried out, which seem to be incompatible with la Antigua Guatemala’s heritage protection law,

2. Recommends that a reactive monitoring mission be carried out as soon as possible to assess the possible damages following the interventions on the Cathedral and on the Church of La Compañia de Jesús, as well as the impact of the proposed commercial complex,

3. Urges the State Party to finalize the reformulation of the La Antigua’s heritage protection law,

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the Centre a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and the measures taken for its preservation, by 1 February 2004, for review  at its 28th session. 

Previous 2001 Next 2004
Report year: 2003
Guatemala
Date of Inscription: 1979
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC.03/27.COM/7B
arrow_circle_right 27COM (2003)
Exports
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* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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